Clamp.



H. V. STEUERNAGEL. CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2,1914.

1,126,1 16. Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

[a'rinssses IHE NORRIS PETERS co. PHoraurHoU WASHINGIDN, D. E

HUGO V. STEUEBNAGEL, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 26, 1915.

Application filed September 2, 1914. Serial N 0. 859,758.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, HUGO V. STEUERNA- GEL, a subject of the Emperor ofGermany, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inClamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clamps, the ob- ]ect of the invention being toprovide a simple article of this character which is effective inoperation, easy to manipulate, and which will solidly and substantiallyhold two or more pieces of work in proper relation without possibilityof the work or the clamp tipping.

The device possesses other features of novelty and advantage which withthe foregoing will be stated at length in the following description,wherein I will set forth in. detail that one of the several forms ofembodiment of the invention which I have selected for illustration inthe drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification.This showing is to enable those skilled in the art to practice theinvention. I do not restrict myself thereto; I may depart therefrom inseveral respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claimsfollowing said description.

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the clampshowing the same in action and as holding together two pieces of work.Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same, the parts being broken away andthe sections of the article at opposite sides of the break, beingbrought together. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same, parts thereofbeing in section. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a block with the face plateremoved and showing the dogs in their inoperative positions. Fig. 5 is alike view showing the dogs set. Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 66of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the block as disconnectedfrom the guide member.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, Figs.2, 3, 4;, 5 and 6 thereofv being on the same scale which is much largerthan that of Figs. 1 and 7.

The different parts of the article are connected with suitablesupporting and guiding means and the parallel rods 2 and 3 answersatisfactorily in this connection.

These rods may be made of any suitable length. Associated with the rodsare blocks as 4 and 5, the blocks being removably connected with therods, so that rods of a different length can be substituted for thoseshown. The adjacent end portions of the rods 2 and 3 extend throughperforations or holes in the block 5 and are maintained normally inrigid relation with said block 5 in any desirable manner, for instancesaid rods may be threaded to receive the nuts 6 which engage the innerand outer surfaces of said block 5 to maintain said rods in rigidrelation with said block but yet to provide for their removableconnection therewith. By dismounting the outer nuts 6 the rods can heslipped from out of their perforations or holes in said block 5.Cooperative with the block 5 is a clamping member as 7. This clampingmember as shown, consists of a plate perforated to receive the twosupporting and guiding rods 2 and 3, the plate being slidable on saidrods and being situated between the blocks 4 and 5 but being normally inproximity to the block 5 which in the present case carries means foradvancing or setting said clamping member or plate 7. The means inquestion may vary, although those shown and now to be described answersatisfactorily. The block 5 is provided on its top and bottomapproximately centrally of its length with duplicate lugs or ears 8through perforations in which the push pins 9 freely and slidablyextend, the front ends of these push pins being adapted to engage theclamping member or plate at opposite sides of the screw 10 tappedthrough the block 5. and the front end of which has a swiveledconnection with the clamping member or plate 7. The rear ends ofthesethrust or push pins 9 are adapted to be operated by an actuator such as11 which as illustrated consists of a disk threaded onto the screw 10.By reason of the fact that the actuator or disk 11 is threaded onto thescrew 10. the former can be adjusted to compensate for wear between thesame and the outer ends of the two push pins 9. The screw 10 may asshown be provided with a winged operating head 12, pinned or otherwisesuitably secured to the outer end of the screw 10, the pin 13 beingshown for such purpose. Between the operating head 12 and the actuatoror disk 10 is interposed a check nut 14: and should it be necessary toadjust the actuator 10 to take up wear the nut let can be advanced toprovide a backing for said actuator. It will be clear that when thescrew 10 is turned toward the right, the actuator 11 will be carriedtherewith and will apply force to the pins 9 so as to squarely advancethe clamping member 7. The screw 10 is not primarily intended to advancethe clamping member 7, although it will aid in this function. Itsprimary purpose is to retract said clamping member when the head 12 isturned to the left.

The two rods 2 and 3 extend freely through holes in the block 4.Associated with this block 4 is the clamping member 15, the shank ofwhich has a substantially rectangular portion 16 and a cylindricalportion 17 the body of the block 4 being slotted or channeled as at 18to receive the said shank, said channel or slot 18 and the partsinclosed by the body of the block being covered by the removable faceplate 19 normally held in position by screws as 20 tapped into the bodyof the block. The rectangular portion 16 has semi-circular notches 21 inwhich are pivoted as at 22 the tail portions of locking dogs as 23, theoperative ends of said dogs having fine teeth 24 to cooperate with therods 2 and 3 as will hereinafter appear. The walls of the notches 21 andthe inner ends of the dogs 23 are on arcs struck from the centers ofmovement of the respective dogs 23 the inner ends of said dogs having acomparatively close contact with said walls so that the latter take upthe thrust of the dogs and relieve the pivots thereof from such thrust.Surrounding the cylindrical portion 17 is the coiled spring 25, one endof which bears against the shoulder formed at the junction of thecylindrical portion 17 and square portion 16, and the other end of whichbears against the outer wall of the channel or slot 1.8, the spring 25exerting a constant tendency to push the clamping member 15 forward. Itshould be noted that the body of the block 4 is oppositely recessed asat 26 to receive the two dogs 23 which as will be clear are normallymaintained in their inoperative positions by the spring 25. When thedogs are in this particular relation the block 4 can be freely movedalong the rods 2 and 3. On outward movement of the clamping member 15.the dogs 23 are moved toward alinement with a toggle-like action, havinga bearing at this time against the outer walls of the recesses 26. theirteeth 24 biting against the rods 2 and 3 to thus securely lock the block4 to said rods. The cylindrical portion 17 extends from the block 4 andas shown is provided with a nut 27-which can be operated to draw theclamping member 15 outward and thus through the dogs 23 lock the block.4 to said rods 2 and 3. When the dam i membe .15 i re sieedit e e toits initial position by the spring the dogs 23 being also returned totheir inopverative positions to free the block 4.

tween the two rods 2 and 3, with one rod below and the other above theboards, the operator in the meantime having pushed back the clampingmember so that the boards can be received between said clamp ing member15 and the companion clamping-- member 7. When this is accomplished theclamping member is released and the spring 25 instantly forces theclamping member 15 against the outer edge of the board 28 so that thetwo boards are then gripped jointly by the two clamping members 7 and15. It should be noted at this time, that the screw 10 is at the centerof the edge of the board 29. WVhen this is accomplished the head 12 isturned to set up the clampingmember 15, and the tighter the clampingmember 15 is set in the manner already described, the tighter will bethe grip of the dogs 23 on the two rods 2 and 3. It will be evident thatit will be impossible for the clamp to slip or tip. and that the boardsor other work cannot tip. The clamping members are squarely andaccurately presented to each other. In case the work or pieces to beclamped are too wide to follow out the procedure outlined. the block 4can be adjusted outward the requisite distance and the block 4 rig dlyconnected to the rods 2 and 3 through the agency of the nut 27 in themanner already described. There may be cases where the two rods cannotstraddle the work as set forth, and in this event the block 4 cantemporarily be disconnected from one of the rods, for instance the rod 3as shown in Fig. 5 when the work can be entered between the rods throughthe open end of the rods. and when this is accomplished the b ock 4 canbe connected with the rod 3 and connected rigidly w th both rods bv theact on of the nut 27. The rod 2 is shown provided with an abutment 30which may as shown consist of a nut which normally prevents accidentalseparation of the block 4 from the rod 2. By removing the nut 30. theblock 4 can be wholly disconnected from both rods. 1 also wish to makeit clear that the rods may be situated either above or below two boardsor like pieces. of work and that also twosets of boards can be clamped,one set of boards being at one side of the rods and the other set beingat the opposite side of the rods.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A clamp comprising supporting and guiding means, a block slidable onthe supporting and guiding means, a clamping member movably connectedwith the block, means operated by the clamping member on the movementthereof for locking the block to the supporting and guiding means, and

a second clamping member cooperative with the other clamping member.

2. A clamp comprising supporting and guiding means, a block slidablyconnected with said supporting and guiding means, a clamping membermovably connected with the block, means actuated by said clamping memberon the movement thereof for locking the block to the supporting andguiding means, manually operable means for setting the locking means,and a second clamping member associated with the supporting and guidingmeans and cooperative with the first mentioned clamping member.

3. A clamp comprising supporting and guiding means, a block slidable onthe supporting and guiding means, a clamping member having a shankextending into the block, spring means acting against the clampingmember and tending constantly to advance the same, locking means forlocking the block to the supporting and guiding means, and set by saidshank on the retraction of the clamping member, and a second clampingmember cooperative with the first mentioned clamping member andassociated with said supporting and guiding means.

4;. A clamp comprising a pair of parallel rods, a block slidable on saidrods, a clamping member, the shank of which extends into said block,said shank being notched on opposite sides, dogs pivoted in the notches,the inner ends of the dogs and the walls of the notches beingrespectively in contact and concentric with the aXes of motion of therespective dogs, a spring acting against the shank to constantly advancethe same and thereby the clamping member, the clamping member whenretracted acting through said shank to cause the dogs to bite againstthe rods to lock the block thereto. and a second clamping membercooperative with the first clamping member.

5. A clamp comprising supporting means, a block movably mounted on thesupporting means, a clamping member movably connected with the block,means operated by the clamping member on the movement thereof, forlocking the block to the supporting means, and a second clamping memberon said supporting means, cooperative with said first mentioned clampingmember.

Copies of this patent 6. A clamp comprising supportingmeans,

a block slidable on the supporting means, a clamping member movablyconnected with the block, means operated by the clamping member on themovement thereof, for locking the block to the supporting means,manually operable means for operating said clamping member to alsoeffect the action of the locking means and the locking of the block tothe supporting means, and a second clamping member cooperative with theother clamping member.

7. A clamp comprising a pair of parallel rods, a block slidable on saidrods, a clamping member, the shank of which extends into said block,said shank being notched on opposite sides, dogs pivoted in the notches.the inner ends of the dogs and the walls of the notches beingrespectively in contact and concentric with the axes of motion of therespective dogs, a spring acting against the shank to constantly advancethe same and thereby the clamping member, the clamping member whenretracted acting through said shank to cause the dogs to bite againstthe rods to lock the block thereto, the block having recesses to receivesaid dogs and said dogs on their motion bearing against the walls of therespective recesses, and a second clamping member cooperative with thefirst clamping member.

8. A clamping member comprising supporting means having a pair ofparallel rods, a block rigidly connected with said rods, a clampingmember connected with said block, a second block slidable on the rods, aclamping member movably connected with the second block, and meansactuated by the second clamping member on the movement thereof, forlocking said second block to said supporting means.

9. A clamp comprising a pair of rods, a block rigidly connected withsaid rods, a clamping member adjustably connected with said block, asecond block slidable on said rods, a clamping member between the rodsmovably connected with said second block, and means actuated by saidsecond clamping member on the movement thereof for looking the secondblock to the rods.

10. As an article of manufacture, a block, a clamping member movablyconnected with saio block, and locking means for fastening the block toa support, actuated by said clamping member on the movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I a'liix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HUGO V. STEUERNAGEL.

Witnesses:

HEATH SUTHERLAND, SHEFFIELD H. CLARKE.

may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ofPatents,

Washington, D. C.

